Всадник без головы

Chapter 9

           Atashortdistanceoffanothergroupofhousesmeetstheeyenearly,ifnotquite,asimposingastheclusterabovedescribedbearingthenameof"TheFort."Theyarejustoutsidetheshadowoftheflag,thoughunderitsprotectionfortoitaretheyindebtedfortheiroriginandexistence.TheyarethegermofthevillagethatuniversallyspringsupintheproximityofanAmericanmilitarypostinallprobability,andatnoveryremoteperiod,tobecomeatownperhapsagreatcity.

           Atpresenttheiroccupantsareasutler,whosestorecontains"knick-knacks"notclassedamongcommissariatrations;anhotel-keeperwhosebar-room,withwhitesandedfloorandshelvessparklingwithprismaticglass,temptstheidlertostepin;abraceofgamblerswhoserivaltablesoffaroandmontéextractfromthepocketsofthesoldiersmostpartoftheirpay;ascoreofdark-eyedseñoritasofquestionablereputation;alikenumberofhunters,teamsters,mustangers,andnondescriptssuchasconstituteinallcountriesthehangers-onofamilitarycantonment,orthefollowersofacamp.

           Thehousesintheoccupancyofthismotleycorporationhavebeen"sited"withsomedesign.Perhapstheyarethepropertyofasinglespeculator.Theystandarounda"square,"where,insteadoflamp-postsorstatues,maybeseenthedecayingtrunkofacypress,orthebushyformofahackberryrisingoutofatapisoftroddengrass.

           TheLeonaatthispointamererivuletglidespastintherearbothoffortandvillage.

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